Penalty Free Super Bowl Party

The countdown to 2014 has passed. Now it’s time to countdown the days until the Super Bowl. If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, you are probably already devising a menu in your head. Chips? Check. Wings? Check. Beer? Check. Lawsuits? Let’s keep those off the menu for a penalty free party.

You’re probably thinking…lawsuits? My closest friends would never sue! While the farthest thing from your mind may be liability risk, what happens if one of your guests injures himself by slipping on ice walking to your door? Or what if a guest becomes ill from eating chicken that has been left out too long? At the end of the evening when it’s time for goodbyes, what if one of your guests gets into the car, has drank too much and gets into a car accident?

Accidents happen. And in today’s society, lawsuits are common. You could be sued for any of the above mentioned issues and find yourself responsible for medical bills, legal fees, or lost wages. A lawsuit could destroy your financial security - but umbrella insurance can help protect you.

In the unfortunate event that you are deemed liable for such a situation, the liability coverage on your current homeowner’s policy might not be enough to protect you from loss. Purchasing a personal umbrella policy provides you with that extra cushion of coverage that is above and beyond standard homeowner’s insurance. It offers protection against large liability claims that could prove to be financially devastating, such as someone falling down your icy stairs at your party. Think of it as added protection. Costs for personal umbrella insurance can be as little as $100 - $200 per year for an additional $1 million or more in added coverage to your standard homeowner’s policy.

Even if you have a personal umbrella policy, there are plenty of ways to avoid an accident that could lead to a lawsuit. Here are a few tips!
Prevent a slip that leads to a trip (to the hospital) - Before your guests arrive – clear your driveway, walkways, and decks of snow and ice. Put salt down where you can. Adequately light your walkways if possible.

Serve good food so you don’t get sued – Even if the food you are serving is prepared outside your home by a guest or a caterer, you could still be held liable if someone becomes ill from consuming it on your property. Keep an eye on foods that can spoil easily, such as chicken and cheese. According to The Harvard Women’s Health Watch, nearly 48 million Americans get a foodborne illness annually, and parties offer plenty of opportunity for contamination.

Safely stock the bar, so guests can be safe in their cars – Super Bowl parties usually call for ice cold beers. But according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on Super Bowl Sunday, 36% of motor vehicle fatalities were connected to drunk driving. If one of your guests drinks too many cold ones and gets into a fender-bender after leaving, you could be liable. Be sure to serve plenty of food and have some non-alcoholic beverages on hand as well. Hire a bartender that can keep an eye on how much your guests are consuming. And be sure that, if they are too intoxicated to get behind the wheel, they have a designated driver or an empty guest bed on which to crash.

Do it right and party off-site – If you are financially able to do so, host your party somewhere other than your house to decrease your liability...if it’s a place that has a liquor license, even better.

So tackle that Super Bowl party, but do it safely. Before hosting the party, you may want to consult with your independent insurance agent and ask questions about a personal umbrella policy. They can guide you on how to have a safe and exciting Super Bowl party! Don’t have a trusted local agent? Find one today at InsuranceDeals4u.com

The information on this site is general in nature. Any description of coverage is necessarily simplified. Whether a particular loss is covered depends on the specific facts and the provisions, exclusions and limits of the actual policy. Nothing on this site alters the terms or conditions of any policies, nor does it provide any guarantees. You should read your specific policy for a complete description of coverage.

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